The teen cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare will perform a modern, hip-hop telling of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at Hartford Stage, Thursday, Aug. 3, through Saturday, Aug. 5. Rehearsing, from left, are ... more

Think you know Shakespeare? “As You Like It” comes to Hartford Stage, but there’s nothing typical about it.

The teen cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare is shaking things up with a modern, hip-hop telling of this tale. The fast-paced show includes the Bard’s original words, paired with contemporary music and dance.

Performances run Thursday, Aug. 3, through Saturday, Aug. 5. The final show is a benefit for Breakdancing Shakespeare, which draws teens from different schools and communities, and is directed by Nina Pinchin.

Pinchin said she’s seen many students “discover their own raw talent and creativity” through this program, and that it’s led to many new friendships. She shared more via email.

Q: What is this Shakespearean comedy about?

A: This is a 400-year-old story about friendship, love and identity. It tells the story of some brave teens who are thrown out of the buttoned-up, rule-based court and are forced to disguise and reinvent themselves in the forest of Arden. There they meet a diverse and hilarious cast of characters — some make friends, some make or forgive enemies, most fall in love and all discover more about themselves, each other and the world around them.

More Information

Hartford Stage, 50 Church St. Thursday, Aug. 3-Saturday, Aug. 5, 7 p.m. Also Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. $10. Aug. 5 evening show is a benefit to support continuation of Breakdancing Shakespeare, with tickets $100, $50 and $30. 860-527-5151, bit.ly/2tKUxjx

Q: The show features Connecticut students ages 14 to 18. What’s been your greatest challenge?

A: This year we have a cast of 17. The biggest challenge is probably giving the teens ownership over Shakespeare’s language. Most of the cast comes in with super-strong dance skills and vocabulary, so that feels like home to them. The language and acting for many are new, so it takes a little while to gain comfort, but once they do their new, fresh storytelling is incredibly powerful.

Q: What’s the best thing about working on this show?

A: The most rewarding/enjoyable part is watching these incredibly talented young people approach every challenge. I firmly believe there is no problem a diverse, engaged ensemble can’t solve when they are bringing humor, diplomacy, energy and ownership to it. Just yesterday in rehearsal we were trying to rap a certain section of text and it wasn’t working as we wanted it to, so we said, “What if we look at it as a dance without music and create choreography to the words?” A half hour later what choreographer Brandon Couloute and the cast had created was pretty genius, in my opinion.

Q: Who should attend?

A: I think this is truly a great show for everybody. It is a great show if you come to the theater all the time and want something totally new and different. It is a great show if you’ve never been to the theater and are looking for a place to start.